Sabudana khichdi: Here's how to have it for best health results

The light on the stomach, high-energy, fasting-friendly sadhana khichdi is an irreplaceable item on the menu for Maha Shivaratri fasting. The vrat-friendly dish is prepared in myriad ways across the country. However, the most common method is cooking well-soaked sabudana, adding sauteed green chillies, cumin, crushed peanuts and boiled potatoes, with a touch of lemon juice and coriander. However, dieticians say there are many ways to make the khichdi more diet-friendly and healthy. Here are a few of them:
1) Make sure you remove the excess starch and stickiness of sabudana by washing it well. You can wash it at least three times under running water. After that, soak them in enough water for at least six hours. 
2) Undoubtedly, ghee adds flavour to the khichdi and aids digestion. However, adding too much of it will make the khichdi a heavy meal with high calories. Stick to a maximum of two teaspoons. If you are not a fan of ghee, you can also opt for cold-pressed coconut oil, which is also aromatic and good for digestion during fasting.

3) Sabudana khichdi has more carbs. Mix it with enough peanuts, curd or paneer if you want to balance it with protein. It will prevent blood sugar spikes and also help you stay full for a long time.
4) Add veggies like spinach, carrots, bell peppers, beans and other crunchy yet healthy toppings of your choice. Their presence will not mess with the traditional taste much but will still give the meal a vibrant, festive look and help you feel full.

5) While sabudana khichdi can be irresistible during fasting, do not over-indulge in it, as that can result in excess calorie intake. 
6) Potatoes are a popular addition to the vrat-time khichdi. But if you swap it with sweet potatoes, you will benefit from better vitamins and fibre
7) To avoid bloating, add rock salt in moderation. 
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